Abstract: A surge protector for use with a two line signal path or control circuit. The surge protector has two terminals for connecting to both line signals as well as provisions for earth grounding. The surge protector has a surge protection stage and a short detection stage for detecting imbalances in the signal. The surge protector also includes a trigger stage which activates an electromechanical device to disconnect the two terminals from the rest of the surge protector when the short detection stage detects a short. The surge protector further includes visual indicators for indicating an operating status and a short detection.

Abstract: An earthquake triggered and electronically controlled shutoff valve for allowing or preventing a flow of a fluid. The shutoff valve incorporates a weight positioned on a pedestal and disengaged from a surrounding moveable tube. Upon sufficient vibrational force, the weight moves from its resting position on the pedestal and engages with the moveable tube to block the flow of the fluid through the shutoff valve. In addition to vibrational forces, the shutoff valve may be electronically triggered via a connector electrically connected to one or more solenoids positioned within the shutoff valve. The solenoids may engage with the weight upon electrical stimulation or may engage with a moveable member coupled to the moveable tube. An energy storage unit provides power for the solenoids such that the solenoids may function in the absence of external power to the shutoff valve.

Abstract: A surge protection apparatus or method for opening a surge path upon failure of a surge protection element as a short. The surge protection device may include a switch controlled by a solenoid or other switch controlling component that changes a position of the switch if the surge protection element fails as a conductive element. A first position of the switch is configured to allow transmittal of a signal from a signal connection, through the surge protection element, and to a ground connection. A second position of the switch is configured to prevent transmittal of a signal from the signal connection, through the surge protection element, and to the ground connection. A delay may be added between the changing of the switch position after the surge protection element fails as a conductor. Visual or other notifiers may indicate when the switch is in the second position.

Abstract: A surge protector for use with a two line signal path or control circuit. The surge protector has two terminals for connecting to both line signals as well as provisions for earth grounding. The surge protector has a surge protection stage and a short detection stage for detecting imbalances in the signal. The surge protector also includes a trigger stage which activates an electromechanical device to disconnect the two terminals from the rest of the surge protector when the short detection stage detects a short. The surge protector further includes visual indicators for indicating an operating status and a short detection.

Abstract: The present invention may provide a surge current sensor and a surge protection system that deploys one or more surge current sensors. The surge current sensor may be placed on or near to a conduit, and it may be used for sensing the surge current conducted therein. The surge current sensor may include a current transformer and a processor. The current transformer may be used for receiving a magnetic flux generated by the surge current and transforming the received magnetic flux to a voltage. The processor may be coupled with the current transformer, such that it may be configured to generate a digital signal based on the voltage. Once the digital signal indicates that the magnitude of the surge current has exceeded a predefined threshold, the surge protection system may initiate a surge protection mechanism.

Abstract: A surge suppression device may include a housing having a cavity, a center conductor positioned within the cavity, a spiral inductor having an inner curve coupled to the center conductor and an outer curve, a coil capture device connected to the outer curve of the spiral inductor, and a ring assembly having a first ring connected to the coil capture device, a second ring connected to the housing, and a voltage limiting device positioned between the first ring and the second ring.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting hardware devices is disclosed. A DC pass RF surge suppressor includes a housing defining a chamber having a central axis, the housing having an opening to the chamber, an input conductor disposed in the chamber of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the chamber, an output conductor disposed in the chamber of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the chamber, a non-linear protection device positioned in the opening of the housing for diverting surge energy to a ground, a capacitor connected in series with the input conductor and the output conductor, a first spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the input conductor and an outer edge coupled to the non-linear protection device, and a second spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the output conductor and an outer edge coupled to the non-linear protection device.

Abstract: A high power band pass RF filtering device having a housing defining an interior chamber and having one or more walls for substantially dividing the interior chamber into one or more sections. A circuit with filtering components for achieving strong attenuation of out-of-band signals is disposed within the interior chamber, certain components of the circuit being separated from one another by the walls. Ports on the housing electrically connect to a respective input node and output node of the circuit and also connect to surge protection elements for dissipating surge conditions present at the ports. A non-surge signal can travel between the ports and through the filtering components. An oil or other fluid is disposed and completely contained within the housing and contacts the circuit components for cooling the circuit components.

Abstract: A high power band pass RF filtering device having a housing for containing a printed circuit board with filtering components for achieving strong attenuation of out-of-band signals. An input port and an output port on the housing electrically connect to a respective input node and output node on the printed circuit board. Surge protection elements are connected at the input port and at the output port for dissipating surge conditions present at the input port or the output port to the housing before the surge travels through the printed circuit board. A non-surge signal present on the input port can travel through the filtering components on the printed circuit board towards the output port. An oil or other fluid is disposed and completely contained within the housing and contacts the printed circuit board for cooling the printed circuit board or the filtering components.

Abstract: An earthquake triggered and electronically controlled shutoff valve for allowing or preventing a flow of a fluid. The shutoff valve incorporates a weight positioned on a pedestal and disengaged from a surrounding moveable tube. Upon sufficient vibrational force, the weight moves from its resting position on the pedestal and engages with the moveable tube to block the flow of the fluid through the shutoff valve. In addition to vibrational forces, the shutoff valve may be electronically triggered via a connector electrically connected to one or more solenoids positioned within the shutoff valve. The solenoids may engage with the weight upon electrical stimulation or may engage with a moveable member coupled to the moveable tube. An energy storage unit provides power for the solenoids such that the solenoids may function in the absence of external power to the shutoff valve.

Abstract: A surge protection apparatus or method for opening a surge path upon failure of a surge protection element as a short. The surge protection device may include a switch controlled by a solenoid or other switch controlling component that changes a position of the switch if the surge protection element fails as a conductive element. A first position of the switch is configured to allow transmittal of a signal from a signal connection, through the surge protection element, and to a ground connection. A second position of the switch is configured to prevent transmittal of a signal from the signal connection, through the surge protection element, and to the ground connection. A delay may be added between the changing of the switch position after the surge protection element fails as a conductor. Visual or other notifiers may indicate when the switch is in the second position.

Abstract: A surge protection circuit may include a tuned circuit board with traces designed to provide a surge protected and RF isolated DC path while propagating RF signals through the PCB dielectric with microstrip lines. The surge protection circuit utilizes high impedance RF decoupling devices such as quarterwave traces or inductors which isolate the multistage DC protection scheme which may include a gas discharge tube, serial surge impeding devices such as inductors and/or resistors, a decoupled air/spark gap device and a Zener diode junction.

Abstract: A high power band pass RF filtering device having a housing defining an interior chamber and having one or more walls for substantially dividing the interior chamber into one or more sections. A circuit with filtering components for achieving strong attenuation of out-of-band signals is disposed within the interior chamber, certain components of the circuit being separated from one another by the walls. Ports on the housing electrically connect to a respective input node and output node of the circuit and also connect to surge protection elements for dissipating surge conditions present at the ports. A non-surge signal can travel between the ports and through the filtering components. An oil or other fluid is disposed and completely contained within the housing and contacts the circuit components for cooling the circuit components.

Abstract: A surge suppression device may include a housing having a cavity, a center conductor positioned within the cavity, a spiral inductor having an inner curve coupled to the center conductor and an outer curve, a coil capture device connected to the outer curve of the spiral inductor, and a ring assembly having a first ring connected to the coil capture device, a second ring connected to the housing, and a voltage limiting device positioned between the first ring and the second ring.

Abstract: The present invention may provide a surge current sensor and a surge protection system that deploys one or more surge current sensors. The surge current sensor may be placed on or near to a conduit, and it may be used for sensing the surge current conducted therein. The surge current sensor may include a current transformer and a processor. The current transformer may be used for receiving a magnetic flux generated by the surge current and transforming the received magnetic flux to a voltage. The processor may be coupled with the current transformer, such that it may be configured to generate a digital signal based on the voltage. Once the digital signal indicates that the magnitude of the surge current has exceeded a predefined threshold, the surge protection system may initiate a surge protection mechanism.

Abstract: A high power band pass RF filtering device having a housing for containing a printed circuit board with filtering components for achieving strong attenuation of out-of-band signals. An input port and an output port on the housing electrically connect to a respective input node and output node on the printed circuit board. Surge protection elements are connected at the input port and at the output port for dissipating surge conditions present at the input port or the output port to the housing before the surge travels through the printed circuit board. A non-surge signal present on the input port can travel through the filtering components on the printed circuit board towards the output port. An oil or other fluid is disposed and completely contained within the housing and contacts the printed circuit board for cooling the printed circuit board or the filtering components.

Abstract: A surge suppression device may include a housing having a cavity, a center conductor positioned within the cavity, a spiral inductor having an inner curve coupled to the center conductor and an outer curve, a coil capture device connected to the outer curve of the spiral inductor, and a ring assembly having a first ring connected to the coil capture device, a second ring connected to the housing, and a voltage limiting device positioned between the first ring and the second ring.

Abstract: A surge protection circuit may include a tuned circuit board with traces designed to provide a surge protected and RF isolated DC path while propagating RF signals through the PCB dielectric with microstrip lines. The surge protection circuit utilizes high impedance RF decoupling devices such as quarterwave traces or inductors which isolate the multistage DC protection scheme which may include a gas discharge tube, serial surge impeding devices such as inductors and/or resistors, a decoupled air/spark gap device and a Zener diode junction.

Abstract: A surge protection circuit may include a tuned circuit board with traces designed to provide a surge protected and RF isolated DC path while propagating RF signals through the PCB dielectric with microstrip lines. The surge protection circuit utilizes high impedance RF decoupling devices such as quarterwave traces or inductors which isolate the multistage DC protection scheme which may include a gas discharge tube, serial surge impeding devices such as inductors and/or resistors, a decoupled air/spark gap device and a Zener diode junction.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting hardware devices is disclosed. A DC pass RF surge suppressor includes a housing defining a chamber having a central axis, the housing having an opening to the chamber, an input conductor disposed in the chamber of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the chamber, an output conductor disposed in the chamber of the housing and extending substantially along the central axis of the chamber, a non-linear protection device positioned in the opening of the housing for diverting surge energy to a ground, a capacitor connected in series with the input conductor and the output conductor, a first spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the input conductor and an outer edge coupled to the non-linear protection device, and a second spiral inductor having an inner edge connected to the output conductor and an outer edge coupled to the non-linear protection device.